WAYCROSS – A Waycross organization that helps move unwanted pets to new homes now has some airborne help.

The Midcoast Regional Airport in Hinesville was the site earlier this month of a rescue airlift for nearly 500 dogs, a few cats, rabbits and guinea pigs who were flown to new homes.

Sixty planes in the Pilots N Paws took off in Operation Special Delivery, a volunteer organization that flies pets from overcrowded animal shelters to areas where rescue pets are in short supply.

Aboard those flights were some animals that the Friends of the Okefenokee Humane Society brought from Waycross, Charlotte de la Vergne said. She and Genelda Field transported 45 dogs and a couple of rabbits.

“It was a very emotional time for us,” said de la Vergne. “We were saddened by having to say goodbye to the dogs. But at the same time, we knew they would be flown to no-kill shelters and foster homes.”

In addition, more than 160 animals were moved by ground transport.

Pilots N Paws, a nonprofit organization, arranged to have volunteer pilots available to fly the dogs to Florida, North, Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey and New York.

There were also connecting flights in Pinehurst, N.C., and West Point, Va.

“We made history Saturday,” she added. “It was the biggest fly-in ever in Georgia history.”

“This is all about saving more dogs,’’ he said of the film. “If it recruits one foster, helps adopt one dog or puts a bowl of kibble in front of one hungry animal, it will have been worth it.”

De la Vergne praised Karen Talbot for her role in Operation Special Delivery. Talbot, of Hammonton, N.J., is a co-founder of Animal Aid USA.

“She was one of our main coordinators,” she said.

Pam Grier. who starred in films in the 1970s, also attended the event.

“She has been a supporter of Pilots N Paws for the past three years. She was the presenter to us last year for the Pet Philanthropy Circle’s pet hero awards for outstanding rescue operation,” de la Vergne said.

In addition to saving pets, the airlift helped buy some time for the Okefenokee Humane Society, de la Vergne said.

The agency was able to empty nine puppy kennels where the concrete had deteriorated from being frequently soaked with urine, she said. But de la Vergne said it likely won’t be long before those kennels are full again.

In addition to getting more pets adopted, the friends organization has recruited volunteers to provide foster homes for dogs and cats until they can be adopted.

De la Vergne said although a number of people have volunteered, “We don’t have enough.”